Improvement in cotton-gins



L. S CHICHESTER.

Cotton Gin.

Patented Feb.- 9, 1858.

STATES LEYVIS S. OHICHESTER, OF NEWV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN OR TO HENRY G.EVANS, SAML. BARSTOW, AND DAVID L. \VINTRINGHAM, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-GINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l 9,3253, datedFebruary 0, 1858.

To ail whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEwIs S. CHIoHEsTnR, of the city, county, and Stateof New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the RollerCotton-Gin; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear,and eX- act description of the same, reference being had to the annexeddrawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is afront view of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse-vertical section ofthe same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the rollers when used withelastic filling or rings. Fig. 4 is a front view of the same. Fig. 5 isa transverse section of the same, showing only one of the rollersprovided with the elastic filling or rings. Fig. 6 is a transversesection of the same, showing the peripheries of the flanges serrated ornotched. Fig. 7 is a transverse section of the same, showing theiroperation.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the severalfigures.

This invention consists in the employment or use of two rollers groovedcircumferentially and fitted together in the same plane, so that theprojecting flanges of each roller will work in the grooves of its fellowor adjoining roller, as hereinafter shown, whereby many advantages areobtained over the ordinary and all other roller-gins with which I amacquainted.

To enablethose skilled in the art to fully understand and construct myinvention, I will proceed to describe it.

A B represent two rollers constructed of steel and groovedcircumferentially, as shown at a, so as to form flanges b. The grooves aare rather wider than the flanges b, so that the flanges of one rollermay be fitted in the grooves of the other, atrifling space-being allowedbetween the sides of the flanges of the two rollers, so as to preventthem coming in contact. The edges of the flanges b are slightly rounded,as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 4. The peripheries of the flanges b donot touch the bottoms of the grooves a, as shown clearly in Fig. 1, andthe rollers as shown in Fig. 1, while they embrace the gist of theinvention, constitute its simplest form.

Power may be applied to the lower roller, A, and motion may becommunicated therefrom to the upper roller by friction only; or, ifdesired, a positive movement may be given the upper roller from thelower one by gearing.

The operation is as follows: The two rollers A B rotate in oppositedirections, as indicated by the arrows, and the staple shown in red, andindicated by 0. (see Fig. 1,) is drawn between the two rollers incrimped form, (see Fig. 1,) the crimping of the staple being of coursecaused by the flanges b fitting in the I grooves a. This crimping of thestaple forms the bite, and enables the rollers to draw or strip thestaple from the seed c,which, in consequence of their size compared withthe angle formed by the bite of the rollers, are repelled from therollers, instead of being drawn between them. (See Fig. 2.) By havingthe flanges b fitted in the grooves a, I am enabled to use rollers oflarge diameter, for the angle formed by the bite is made thereby veryobtuse, and will consequently repel the seed. The original gins, whichare the ones now in most general use, have rollers of quite smalldiameter, so that the seed may be repelled. By referring to Fig. 7 theoperation will be clearly seen. The smaller rollers d, shown in red,represent those of the original gin, while those tinted blue representmy improved rollers, and it will be seen that the repelling-angle ofboth is precisely the same,while the diameters of my improved rollersare about twice as large as the ordinary ones in use. The rollers of theordinary gins, in consequence of being small in diameter, arenecessarily short, in order to prevent springing. By my improvement Ican employ comparatively long rollers, in consequence of their increaseddiameter, and thereby proportionably increase the work ing capacity ofthe machine.

The grooves a of the rollers A B are made sufliciently narrow, so thatthe seed 0' cannot possibly pass therein, the seed being repelled by theperipheries of the flanges b of both rollers, as shown clearly in Figs.2 and 7. The staple c as it is crimped cannot be cut or in* jured, asthe edges of the flanges b, as before stated,are rounded, and the sidesof the flanges of the two rollers are not in contact with each other,the grooves a being wider than the flanges.

In certain cases it may be preferable to have the peripheries of theflanges b notched or serrated, as shown clearly in Fig. 6, the serratedperipheries serving to catch and draw the staple into the bite. Incertain cases also, as in the ginning of very fiiie or superior staple,it may be preferable to form a bite partially by the contact. of the tworollers, instead of depending solely on the crimping of the staple orfiber, as previously explained This may be effected by having thegrooves of one or both rollers provided with india-rubber rings 6, orrings formed of other suitable elastic or pliable substance, so that theperipheries of the flanges of one roller will bear on the ringscin thegrooves a of the other roller,and vice versa,providcd both rollers beprovided with the elastic rings, the bite being thereby formed by thecrimping of the fiber and the pressure combined.

I do not claim, broadly, the employment or use of grooved rollers inthemselves considered without reference to their application to cottongins, for grooved rollers are used in sheet metal working devices,crushing machines, and Various other machines for different purposes;but,

Having thus described lily invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

The rollers A B, grooved circumferentially as shown, and having theperipheries of their flanges b smooth or serrated, the rollers beingfitted together with or without the elastic rings 0, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

LEXVIS S. OHICHESTER.

Witnesses:

XV. TUscn, \VM. HAUFF.

